Volume XIII, Issue XXXVI July 8, 2024 | |
Echoes~
Your Weekly Catechetical News from the
Office of Christian Formation
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Refresher, Reminder #2 It starts with a conversation
As we refresh ourselves in preparation for the reception of the new OCIA I am using this space to review and remind on key components of the process. The process itself is akin to dating and starts with conversation. It is not "convert classes" or "catechism classes" or "a refresher course for Catholics." This first stage of conversation is the "looking stage." Something has propelled an individual to contact their local Catholic Church to inquire about Catholicism. Some may even say at this point, "I want to be Catholic" or "how do I get baptized." But those questions are putting the cart before the horse.
This initial awakening to a desire to know something about Jesus Christ is called the inquiry stage. It is a stage of conversations, faith sharing, getting comfortable with one another so deeper sharing can occur. This stage has as its beginning an interview process wherein general questions are asked by a team member to discover this person's current place on their faith journey.
This is the place we figure out, with the inquirer, what they already bring to the journey of faith: baptism in another Christian denomination, practice in other non-Christian faith traditions, previous marriages, time spend among us at worship, children, current marriage, what about Catholicism do they want to explore.
For the individual coming forward, we should them explore some very basic questions:
Existence of God. My existence and what do these two things mean?
Who is Jesus Christ? What does he offer to me?
What do I already know about Jesus? What do I desire to know?
How do Catholic Christians live?
How do Catholics look at Scripture?
How do I enter into prayer? What forms of prayer do Catholics embrace?
What is Catholic Worship like? Can I participate?
The OCIA Advisory Board will be providing an updated interview form for inquirers. You may use whatever "registration form" you desire for intake information, but an interview form with the above questions should take place at the beginning of the inquiry stage. This interview should be done with a member of the OCIA Team that has skills in pastoral listening.
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The annual liturgical year order forms will
be available starting next week. We are test driving a website page wherein you can see the book you are ordering and have a record of your order. We have put the new OCIA ritual options on there as a pre-order with our best guess on our discounted pricing. Paper orders will also still be taken.
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What is in a Name?
When we go about naming something, we give a specific meaning and purpose to the item.
This is true of the programs that are in our parishes to help form people in the faith. What we name our programs tells us what they are meant to do. Vatican II and the subsequent directories for catechesis that have followed have redefined what our vision is for formation in the faith. Let's take a look at a short history:
Catechism or catechism classes: systematic oral instruction that uses as its key tool the rote memorization of the dogmas and doctrine of the faith.
CCD: (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) a specific organization that has written materials to be used in instruction. This organization was founded in 1562 in Italy for the purpose of providing religious education and materials. In the U.S., it became the name in the 1960s for instructions for children in the Catholic Faith. This was later replaced by the term "religious education."
Religious Education (R.E., PREP, etc) the providing of classroom instruction wherein children and youth are brought together on a limited basis to learn the faith.
Each of these falls quite a bit short as a name for what we actually need and want to provide to our families who come to us for assistance in forming their children in the faith. A better and more accurate term is "Faith Formation."
Faith Formation: is a term that envisions a process of formation from birth to death. It is a lifelong process that encompasses all ages and brings each into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. It imagines bringing all of the faithful together in various ways to learn, share, and participate in the life of the Catholic Church and be better prepared to share that life with others.
What's in a Name?
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Catechetical Sunday, September 15, 2024
Catechetical Sunday is celebrated in the United States on the third Sunday of September as a way for parishes to acknowledge and commission those who serve the parish and school community as catechists.
In his Apostolic letter, Antiquum ministerum, Pope Francis describes the role of the catechist as: “Catechists are called first to be expert in the pastoral service of transmitting the faith as it develops through its different stages from the initial proclamation of the kerygma to the instruction that presents our new life in Christ and prepares for the sacraments of Christian initiation, and then to the ongoing formation that can allow each person to give an accounting of the hope within them. At the same time, every catechist must be a witness to the faith, a teacher and mystagogue, a companion and pedagogue, who teaches for the Church. Only through prayer, study, and direct participation in the life of the community can they grow in this identity and the integrity and responsibility that it entails.”
Annual Theme
“Lord, when did we see you hungry"
Matthew 25:37
"Señor, ¿cuándo te vimos hambriento? "
Mateo 25;37
Commissioning of Catechists
We encourage using Catechetical Sunday to publicly commission and pray for those who will serve as catechists and teachers in the parish community. A commissioning rite is available to use at the Sunday Masses or in a special prayer service:
Commissioning Service (English)
Servico de Comisión (Spanish)
Catechetical Sunday also offers an opportunity to recall that all of the baptized have roles in handing on the faith in their daily life, families, work, and church involvement.
Resources
The USCCB provides resources (prayer cards, certificates, mostly available as free downloads) for parishes to use for the celebration of Catechetical Sunday:
Resources from USCCB
Other resources:
Sadlier (2024 not posted yet)
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Adult Confirmation 2025
Bishop Pohlmeier will confirm Catholic adults, those over the age of 18, who have been baptized and received First Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. There will be two celebrations in 2025:
Saturday, February 8, 2025 at the 5:00 pm Mass at St. Patrick Parish in Gainesville
Sunday, June 8, 2025 at a 2:00 pm Mass in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
Preparation information and registration information can be found Adult Confirmation
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Save the date:
6th Annual Blessing of Homeschool Families Mass and Reception,
Monday, Sepember 23 at 5:30 pm at San Jose Parish
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Gender and Sexuality Identity Virtual Conference
Ruah Woods Institute is a formation institute focused on the dignity of the human person, through among other resources, Theology of the Body. They seek to apply Theology of the Body to every day Catholic life. The Institute is located just to the north of Cincinnati, Ohio and its team provides many resources for school, parish, and home use.
They have put together this virtual conference with timely information and formation on gender and sexuality identity through several lenses with known experts. The flyer to the right lists the experts as well as the perspectives that will be covered.
As a diocese, we have an ad hoc committee working on resources and suggestions on this urgent topic and this three day conference features much of the materials we will be providing to our entities.
This would be Level III points for those who choose to attend.
Gender and Sexual Identity Link
Level III
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Save the dates:
June 23-27, 2025
17th Annual Summer School of Theology
Fr. Timothy Cusick, S.T.L.
Contemporary Moral Issues
17th
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The McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame has partnered with NCPD to develop a six-week, online, facilitated course for $99 that equips parents, teachers and ministers to address "Sex Ed" with the young people they care about. Called "The Body and Beyond: Human Sexuality for Young People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from a Catholic Perspective," the course involves approximately 2-3 hours per week, including an opportunity for 1 live Zoom conversation (at a time determined by the participants and facilitator).
Participation costs $99. Ministers who complete the course will gain free access to the course materials and a facilitator manual that enable them to implement educational programming in their local setting. A minimum of 12 participants are needed for the course to run. More information can be found at the following links: Information and Registration
Level III
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“Draw Near and Walk With”:
The Art of Accompaniment in Faith Formation & Ministry
Diocese of St. Augustine
Annual Day of Reflection for Formation Leaders
August 6, 2024
Marywood Retreat Center
We are pleased to welcome back to DOSA:
Facilitator: Rev. Dr. Ben Berinti, CPPS, Pastor
Immaculate Conception Church, Melbourne Beach, FL
Ministry is more “art” than technique because ministry is first and foremost about accompaniment. Jesus demonstrates this for us as the Evangelist Luke shares the post-Resurrection experience and model of faith formation on the “Road to Emmaus”. Gather for an invigorating day of reflection and empowerment and welcome the Lord to warm your heart in preparation for another year of ministry in the Diocese of St. Augustine.
Fr. Ben Berinti, CPPS, is a Missionary of the Precious Blood, and has been serving in the Diocese of Orlando in a variety of ministries for the past 28 years. Fr. Ben is a well-respected pastor, teacher, retreat leader, and writer. He has authored 3 full-length books of spiritual reflections, as well as 4 shorter “chapbooks”. He currently serves on the Provincial Council of the US Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.
Registration is open
Jotform to register
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Basic Certification (Level I) | |
Important Announcement:
Starting with the August Level I sessions, we will no longer be using the blue folder of pre-read materials. We have purchased an electronic license for most of the readings and will provide links for all the readings at the time of registration. These are still meant to be pre-read before the class sessions.
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Dr. Tim O'Malley of the McGrath Institute at Notre Dame has written another book for the Eucharistic Revival. This one takes us through 15 elements of the Mass and it is quite suitable for small groups in parishes and schools. You can use the free videos that go right along with the chapters or opt to purchase a kit. All are available from Ave Maria Press, the publishing arm of Notre Dame University.
Companion Videos with Dcn Jason and Rachel Bulman
Companion Kit for Sale
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Continuing Formation
(Level III Opportunities)
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Jul 10, 2024 11:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Our evermore online culture has witnessed an emerging dichotomy: a new yearning for profound relationships and yet reluctance to deeply connect with others. In a post-2020 world, scars of loneliness and anxiety can prompt resistance to the effort required for cultivating friendship. But belonging to a community that accompanies us in engaging the world is not only healthy…it’s the Christian way of life, modeled on the journey of Jesus and his disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Join Liturgical Press and Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP, for an insightful conversation on the centrality of fostering friendship in a fractured world.
Link to register
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The Audacity of Ignatian Spirituality
A free webinar from Loyola Press
St. Ignatius of Loyola made some bold claims: we can find God in all things; we can ask God for what we desire; we can have a personal relationship with God; and more. These bold claims have become the bedrock of the Ignatian way, and Ignatian spirituality continues to speak to the hearts of every generation, all over the world. We’ve gathered a panel of Ignatian experts for an engaging webinar exploring what makes Ignatian spirituality so audacious and how the bold claims made by Ignatius can transform our lives in our 21st-century world.
Link to register for this webinar
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Transformative Courses for Catechesis and Faith Formation
Summer 2024 Now Enrolling!
Forming Tomorrow's Disciples (new course)
Jul 17, 2024 - Aug 27, 2024
$60 Enroll
Full Course Description
6-Week Course
Overview
Featuring text and videos by Colleen M. Griffith, Hosffman Ospino, Thomas H. Groome, John F. Baldovin, S.J., Andrew R. Davis, L. Callid Keefe-Perry, Melissa M. Kelley, Nancy Pineda-Madrid, Theresa A. O’Keefe, and Richard Lennan
How do we guide others on their faith journeys? Forming disciples requires attention to the whole person. Intellectual, social, ethical, and spiritual development are all needed for learners to make meaning and become the persons God calls them to be. This course, designed for faith formation educators (kindergarten to college), explores formative education in a theological context. Topics covered include approaches to Scripture, contextuality, justice, resilience, imagination, communal prayer, and mentoring within a faith formation/educational setting.
Topics
- Week 1: Introduction
- Week 2: Formation in Faith
- Week 3: Approaches to Scripture and Theology
- Week 4: Fostering Resilience and Imagination
- Week 5: Cultural Contextuality and Justice
- Week 6: Communal Prayer and Formative Mentoring
Other courses:
Teaching Religion to Adolescents
Fee: $60
Jul 19, 2023 - Aug 22, 2023
Drawing upon theology, developmental psychology, and religious education, this course addresses the questions: Who are my students? What should I teach? and How do I teach it effectively?
Teaching Religion to Children
Fee: $60
Jul 17, 2024 - Aug 20, 2024
Focused on the elementary and junior high catechist and religious educator, this course explores the fundamental questions facing educators: Who are my students? What should I teach? and How do I teach it effectively? Participants will learn about the developmental needs of their students and their diverse learning styles as well as different strategies and resources to provide a quality faith-based education. This course is not dependent on any catechetical textbook series.
Crossroads link to all summer courses
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I will be away from the office from
July 11 - July 22 with limited ability to respond. Please be patient.
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